Rotary engine.



PATBNTED OCT. 24, 1905.

J. H. GAMBLE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1004. RENEWED AUG. 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

No. 802,560. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. J. H. GAMBLE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1994. RENEWED AUG. 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed June 9,1904. Renewed August 29, 1905. Serial No. 276,329.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a rotary en ine in which all of the parts will be thoroug y packed without, however, exercising any considerable friction on the movin parts.

A st1ll further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of piston and pistonwing wherein provision is made for firmly drum.

p of one of the piston-wings.

to indicate corresponding parts throughout supporting the packing, so as to avoid danger of breakage of the wing from excessive steam-pressure, and at the same time prevent any of the steam or other fluid passing the wing.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated' in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended c aims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. a

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation o a rotary engine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the piston-packing-means detached. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing portions of the piston- Fi 5 is a detached perspective view Similar reference-numerals are employed the several figures ofthe drawings.

The cylinder and bed-plate are formed,

preferably, ofcast metal, and for convenience may be divided into two or more sections in order to permit the proper finishing gether.

and assembling of the parts. The opposite cylinder-heads are provided with stuffingboxes for the aassa e of a mam shaft .which preferably is provided with auxiliary bearings outside the cylinder-heads in order that the shaft may be kept in proper alinement. The shaft carries a piston-drum 3, that preferably is made in three sections 4., 5, and 6, bolted or otherwise secured to The two end sections 4 and 6 are of similar construction, and each is provided with flanges 7 and 8 of a diameter just a trifle less than the greatest internal diameter of the cylinder, the two flanges being separated by an annular groove 9, in which is placed a metallic packingring 10, the ring being preferably of that general class used for the pistons of reciprocating engines. The central section 5 of the piston is of a diameter about equal to the smallest diameter of the cylinder. The space between these two diameters constitutes a steam-space of the cylinder and extends for a trifle more than one-half of the periphery of the piston, the remaining portion being closed by a fixed abutment 12, which may form a part of the cylinder-wing or which may be formed of an auxiliary member or members secured to the castin In the opposing faces of the flanges 8 are formed recesses 15 of a number equal to the number of wings 16 to be carried by the piston-drum, there being three of such wings in the present instance. The wings 16 are of arcuate form in crosssection, the curvature of the sides being on lines concentrio with the periphery of the piston-drum, and from the end portions of the inner edge of each wing extend pivot-pins 17, that fit within suitable receiving-openings formed in the flange portions 8 of the piston. The periphery of the central portion 5 of the piston is provided with a curved pocket 18, into which the piston-wing fits snugly when in closed position and passes under the abutment 12, and the walls of the two recesses 15, which extend into the flanges 8 for a distance approximately equal to the width of said flanges, are all arranged on arcuate lines, one of which, representing the outward swing of the piston-wing, being struck on a curved line from the axes of the pins 17, another being formed by the inner wall of the pocket 18, and the third being struck on the curved line of a recess equal to that of the smallest diameter of the piston. This latter wall forms at each side of the ring a rigid support and rest, which will prevent the ring from breaking under excessive steam-pressure, and this wall, together with the contacting face of the wing, is arranged to fit so closely as to prevent the passage of steam, and the end wall of each of the pockets 18, wherein the curved middle end of the wing rests, is by preference in the nature of a groundjoint, so as to positively prevent )assage of steam. The outer or free end of t 1e pistonring comes into engagement with the curved outer wall of the steam-space and bears against the latter in such manner as to pre vent the passage of steam; but in order to avoid excessive friction the free end of the wing is slightly cut away, and the pocket 18 is of similar contour to receive it.

In the piston-drum are formed a number of ports 20, extendin on the periphery of the piston to each poc :et 18, the port being enlarged at its juncture with the pocket in order to afford a rather large area, so that the steam entering through the port may act more accurately in forcing the wing 16 outward to operative position.

The abutment 12, which extends inward from the end wall of the cylinder, occupies nearly one-half of the space around the smaller diameter of the piston and is provided with one straight radial wall 25 and one curved wall 26, the latter presenting a cam-surface, with which the wings successively come into engagement and by which they are forced down within the piston-pockets 18. The radial wall forms a fixed abutment against which the steam may act, this abutment corresponding to one of the cylinder heads of a reciprocatory engine. At one side of the cylinder is a steam-inlet port 27, from which lead one or more parts 28, terminating at the radial wall 25, and an auxiliary port 28 also leads from the main port to a pocket 29 of an area approximately equal to the area of the port 20, this ocket retaining a supply of steam which wil fill the ports 20 as the latter successively pass the pocket and exert the outward movement of the pistonwing under steam-pressure as soon as said wing has passed the abutment through wall 25. As soon as the end of the piston-wing is free from the abutment it is moved outward until its outer edge' engages the curved inner wall of thecylinder and the forward edges of the abutment are in engagement with the curved walls of the recesses 15 and flanges 8. These form rigid backings for the pistonwing, and the latter cannot be jammed or broken from excessive steam-pressure. The steam continues to act either by direct pres sure or partly by direct pressure and partly by expansion until the piston-wing arrives opposite the exhaust-port 30, and at this time a second piston-wing will have passed the radial face 25 of the abutment. As the pis ton-wing approaches the cam-face 25 of the abutment it will be gradually forced inward, and any steam in the port 20 or in the wingreceiving pocket will be forced outward through the port into the steam-space, so that the wing will freely close, and as the steam-pressure is about equal on both of the sides during the closing movement such movement may be accomplished without jar or clatter.

One of the principal difficulties found in the construction of rotary engines is the provision of a proper steam-tight packing. As these engines are designed principally for runnin at high speed, it becomes impossible to employ yieldable packing, such as rubber or fiber, and it is exceedingly difficult to employ metallic packing without offering very considerable frictional resistance to the turn ing of the piston. In the present case the packing-rings 10 are of a type in common use in reciprocatory engines. These packing-rings are disposed in the grooves 10 and are of a width a trifle less than the grooves, so that under steam-pressure they will be forced into engagement with the inner walls of the flanges 7 of the piston. The packing is held from rotative movement by means of small locking-pins 32, and the only friction, therefore, is between the inner wall of the flange 7 and the adjacent face of the packing-ring, so that in the event of excessive wear the pack ing-ring may be taken out and reversed. While only a single groove has been shown at each side of the piston, it is obvious that the number may be increased, if rendered necessary by the pressure of steam employed.

Inorder to prevent leakage of steam between the opposite sides of the abutment and the adjacent inner faces of the flanges 8, the sides of the abutment are cut away to form recesses 33, and in said recesses are placed packing-strips 34, having spring-pressed stems 35, by which they are forced outward into contact with the side walls of the flange 8, the force exerted being sufficient to prevent passage of steam at these points. To prevent passage of steam between the inner face of the abutment and that portion of the piston of smallest diameter, a packing-strip 36 is arranged in a transverse recess in the inner face of the abutment and is pressed downward into contact with the periphery of the piston by one or more springs 37. This packing-strip 36 is arranged between the two packing-strips 34, and when the latter are pressed outward there is some danger of leakage of the steam between the opposite ends of the strip 36 and the adjacent faces of the packing-strips 34, and to prevent this the strip 36 is provided with felt or other strips 38, that project from its opposite ends and engage against the inner face of the pack ing-strips 34. As there is no friction between these members, there will be no wear on the flexible strips, and the latter will be BESTAVAILABLE com utward by steam-pressure against the spring being adjusted by means of screws 42.

With an engine constructed in accordance with this invention all of the parts are thoroughly packed, andthe packing is of such nature as to offer the least ossible resistance to all of the parts and at t e same time may be readily removed or adjusted when worn.

The piston-wings being provided with groundjoints are supported in such manner as to prevent all danger of breakage from excessive pressure or their jamming between the periphery of the piston and the curved wall of the cylinder.

Having thus described the invention,what

is claimed is- 1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having an abutment, a revoluble piston having end flanges, and a reduced intermediate portion,

theperiphery of such intermediate portion being providedwith pockets, and the opposing side walls of the flanges being recessed,

pivotally-mounted piston-Wings extending ,within the pockets and recesses, the walls of the recesses forming supports for the opposite ends of the wings when the latter are exposed to the action of steam, and auxiliary ports extending through the periphery of the piston and opening into said pockets, therey to permit outward movement of the wings under steam-pressure. 2. In a rotary engine, a piston having an intermediate portion of reduced diameter and provided with peripheral pockets, opposite end flanges formed of separate members secured to the intermediate portion, the opposing walls of said flanges being provided with recesses, the walls of said recesses being disposed on curved lines, and piston-wings having laterally-projecting pivot-pins adapted to openings formed in the opposing faces I of the flange members, the end portions of the piston-wings extending into the recesses,

the walls of the latter forming supports for the wings when the latter are moved outward under steam-pressure, and auxiliary ports leading from the periphery oi the piston to said pockets.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a cylinder, a revoluble piston having a poriplieral groove, a metallic packing-ring extending within the groove and forced by steam-pressure into engagement with the outer wall of said. groove, and means for holding said packing ring from rotative movement.

4. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder, a piston provided with peripheral grooves near its opposite ends,- non-revoluble packing-rings extending into said grooves, and movable under steam-pressure into ongagement with the outer walls of said grooves. 4

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston having a reduced intermediate portion, and end flanges, of a cylinder having a fixed abutment extending between the flanges, said abutment having recessed side and inner walls, spring-pressed packingstrips arranged in each of such recesses and movable outward into contact with the opposing flange-faces, an auxiliary packing strip arran ed in the recess in the inner wall and movabde into contact with the periphery of the piston, and flexible packing-strips carried by such auxiliary packingstrip and adapted to engage with the flange-engaging packing-strips.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a piston having a reduced intermediate portion and end flanges, of piston-wings carried by the piston, a fixed. abutment fitting between the end flanges, said abutment having packing-receiving recesses, a packing strip arranged within one of said recesses and bearing against the periphery of the intermediate portion of the piston, arcuate packingstrips arranged in side recesses in the abutment and bearing on the radial faces of the flanges, and auxiliary packing members bearin on the outer faces of said flanges.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of" two witnesses.

L. C. PERKINS, R. F. MonroN. 

